Cable guide

ABSTRACT

A cable guide, comprising: a cylindrical pivot portion having a handle portion integrally formed at its outside in radial direction, and a draw-out port formed from the inside of the pivot portion to penetrate through the base end of the handle portion; a reel-in portion having an internal receiving space, which pivots on the outside of the pivot portion to conduct relative rotation; a flexible cord made of polyester monofilament material, one end of which is wound in the receiving space and the other end of which is connected with a drag-head to be located at the outside of the draw-out port; and an circular-arc shape guiding portion formed at the lower edge of the draw-out port and inclined from inside to outside. In this manner, the linearity and the capacity of enduring high squeezing force of the flexible cord can be raised, and the frictional force between the draw-out port is relatively reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cable guide, and more particularly to an improved cable guide which is adapted to a flexible cord made of polyester monofilament material.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Generally, a cable duct is embedded within the wall or the floor and the cable duct often is not linearly arranged from one end to the other end. The cable duct even has to be arranged in a horizontal surface as well as a vertical surface and be bent. Usually, workers skilled in wiring often use conventional cable guiding cord to pass from one end through the other end of the cable duct, and to draw the guiding cord out after making a suitable mark on the guiding cord, so as to measure and cut proper length and quantities of cable predetermined to pass through the cable duct. After the preparation of the required cable, the guiding cord passes through the cable duct to the other end again, and the cables prepared are tied to the end of the guiding cord so as to be dragged across the cable duct.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 1 c, a winding cable guide (1′) of the prior art is shown. The conventional winding cable guide (1′) mainly comprises a cylindrical portion (11′) radially outwardly and integrally formed with a handle portion (12′) which is provided with a draw-out port (13′) passing through the base end of the handle portion (12′) for communication with the inside of the cylindrical portion (11′); an reel-in portion (14′) formed by a pair of half portions (141′) opposite to each other, the reel-in portion (14′) having an internal receiving space and rotatably attached to the cylindrical portion (11′) so as to be rotated with respect to the cylindrical portion; a flexible steel strip (15′), one end of which is wound in the receiving space and the other end of which is connected with a drag-head (151′); and a flexible segment (152′) provided on the outer end of the flexible steel strip (15′) out of the draw-out port (13′) for guiding the cable across the cable duct. In this manner, the flexible steel strip (15′) is easy to be reeled out when in use and easy to be reeled in when out of use.

In the above conventional cable guide (1′), in order to obtain better flexibility for the flexible steel strip (15′), the aspect ratio is made in such a way that the width is larger and the thickness is smaller proportionally. Although this configuration is beneficial to obtain better flexibility, under the situation of shuttling across cable duct of longer length and of more curving place, the linearity of the flexible strip becomes worse and the frictional force becomes greater. Moreover, the flexible strip is liable to distort when subjected to high squeezing force. Thus, the frictional force occurring during the passing of the flexible strip (15′) through the draw-out port (13′) would become greater after used for a certain period, so that reeling in or reeling out the flexible strip becomes more and more unsmooth. Alternatively, there is a proposal to reduce the width and increase the thickness proportionally of the sectional area of the flexible strip so as to improve the above defect. A person skilled in the art can understand that the linearity of the flexible strip can be improved, but the flexibility would be degraded in such configuration. The flexible strip of such configuration is relatively difficult to be bent so that it is disadvantageous to passing through the curved cable duct smoothly. In addition, the sharp edge of the flexible strip (15′) is liable to slit the insulation layer of the cable. Furthermore, a conventional cable guiding cord disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Patent No. 566444 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 2 c, which was also filed by the same applicant with the present application, mainly comprises a flexible cord (20′) made of polyester monofilament twisted along its length in one direction so as to form a coiled shape ragged surface. The flexible cord (20′) is connected with a drag-head (21′) and a flexible segment (22′), wherein the cross section of the flexible cord (20′) is in an oval form with a major axis of (D1) and a minor axis of (D2). In this manner, the flexible cord (20′) can shuttle across the cable duct by point-contact with the duct wall, so as to lower down the frictional resistance between the flexible cord (20′) and the inner wall of the cable duct (PVC tube or metal tube).

In the above prior arts, although the former flexible strip has some defects caused by material properties, it is advantageous to easily reeling in and out when in use. The later flexible cord is advantageous to reduction on frictional force with inner wall of the tube duct, but it is inconvenient to be reeled in and out when in use. In view of the defects of the prior arts which are expected to be improved, the inventor contemplates the ideal case to adopt both the advantages of easy reeling in and reeling out and of reduction on frictional force with inner wall of the tube duct when in use. Consequently, it is our purpose that results in the realization of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a cable guide in which a flexible cord made of polyester monofilament is used to improve the defect of conventional cable guide.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, the cable guide of the present invention mainly comprises a cylindrical portion radially outwardly and integrally formed with a handle portion which is provided with a draw-out port passing through the base end of the handle portion for communication with the inside of the cylindrical portion; a reel-in portion having an internal receiving space and rotatably attached to the cylindrical portion so as to be rotated with respect to the cylindrical portion; a flexible cord made of polyester monofilament material, one end of which is wound in the receiving space and the other end of which is connected with a drag-head located out of the draw-out port so as to guide the cable across the cable duct.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the cross section of the flexible cord is in form of a wide and flat tetragon, and the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible cord are outwardly bulged along a longitudinal direction of the flexible cord into a round ridge. In this manner, the linearity and the resistance to high squeezing force of the flexible cord can be enhanced.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the inner lower surface of the draw-out port is rounded and outwardly sloped down so as to form a cable guide. Thus, the frictional force between the flexible cord and the draw-out port can be reduced and the flexible cord can be easily reeled in and out.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the flexible cord is made of polyester monofilament having an oval cross section with a major axis and a minor axis and twisted in one direction so as to form a coiled shape ragged surface, and the flexible cord can shuttle across the cable duct by point-contact with the inner wall, so as to lower down the frictional force between the flexible cord and the inner wall of the cable duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the cable guide having reel-in function of a prior art;

FIG. 1 a shows a partial enlarged view of the rear side of the cable guide shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1 b shows a cross section taken from line 1 b-1 b of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 c shows a cross section taken from line 1 c-1 c of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the cable guiding cord disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Patent No. 566444;

FIG. 2 a shows a section taken from line 2 a-2 a of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 b shows another cross section of the cable guiding cord shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 c shows still another cross section of the cable guiding cord shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the first embodiment of the cable guide according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 a shows a rear side of the cable guide shown in FIG. 3, in which the cable guide is partially cut off;

FIG. 3 b shows a partial enlarged view of the cable guide shown in FIG. 3 a ;

FIG. 3 c shows a cross section taken from line 3 c-3 c of FIG. 3 b;

FIG. 3 d shows a cross section taken from line 3 d-3 d of FIG. 3 b;

FIG. 3 e shows a partial enlarged view of the encircled portion shown in FIG. 3 b;

FIG. 3 f shows a partial enlarged view of the encircled portion shown in FIG. 3 c;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the second embodiment of the cable guide according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 a shows a rear side of the cable guide of FIG. 4, in which the cable guide is partially cut off;

FIG. 4 b shows a partial enlarged view of the cable guide shown in FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4 c shows a cross section taken from line 4 c-4 c of FIG. 4 b;

FIG. 4 d shows a cross section taken from line 4 d-4 d of FIG. 4 b;

FIG. 4 d′ shows another cross section of the flexible cord shown in FIG. 4 b;

FIG. 4 d″ shows still another cross section of the flexible cord shown in FIG. 4 b;

FIG. 4 e shows a partial enlarged view of the encircled portion shown in FIG. 4 b; and

FIG. 4 f shows a partial enlarged view of the encircled portion shown in FIG. 4 c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The technical contents of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the preferred embodiments are described for illustrative but not restrictive purposes.

Firstly, referring to FIGS. 3 to 3 f, the cable guide 3 according to the present invention mainly comprises:

a cylindrical portion 31 radially outwardly and integrally formed with a handle portion 32 including, at its base end, a holding portion 321 coaxial with the cylindrical portion 31, a slit-like sliding groove 322 formed between the holding portion 321 and the cylindrical portion 31; and a draw-out port 33 passing through the holding portion 321 and the base end of the handle portion 32 for communication with the inside of the cylindrical portion 31;

a reel-in portion 34 formed by a pair of oppositely arranged cylindrical half 341 and having a internal receiving space, the inner walls 341 a of the inside ends being connected together to form a barrel portion and the outer ends being rotatably arranged at the outside of the cylindrical portion 31, the outer walls 341 b being slidably engaged with the sliding groove 322 so that the reel-in portion 34 can be rotated with respect to the handle portion 32;

a flexible cord 35 made of polyester monofilament material, one end of which is fixed on the barrel portion so that the flexible cord 35 can be wound on the barrel portion and thereby received in the receiving space, and the other end of which is connected with a drag-head 351 and a flexible segment 352 having better flexibility located outside the draw-out port 33.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 d, the cross section of the flexible cord 35 is in form of a wide and flat tetragon which is configured to have a reduced width and an increased thickness proportionally so as to improve the defect of the conventional flexible cord (flat steel stripe). Furthermore, the upper and lower sides of the flexible cord 35 are each bulged along a longitudinal direction of the flexible cord 35 into a round ridge portion 35 a. In this manner, the linearity of the flexible cord 35 is increased, and the frictional force between the flexible cord 35 and the inner wall of the cable duct is reduced during shuttling across the cable duct, and less distortion happens when subjecting to high squeezing force.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the lower surface of the draw-out port is rounded and outwardly sloped down so as to form a cable guide 3 as shown in FIGS. 3 c, 3 e and 3 f). Thus, the frictional force between the flexible cord 35 and the draw-out port 33 can be reduced and the reel-in and reel-out of the flexible cord 35 becomes easy.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 4 f, the second embodiment of the cable guide 3′ of the present invention are shown. The second embodiment is similar to the former and, therefore, description of similar parts may be omitted. The second embodiment is different for the former embodiment in that the flexible cord 35′ is a single strand polyester cord made of polyester monofilament material having an oval cross section with a major axis D1 and a minor axis D2 and twisted along its length in one direction so as to form a coiled shape ragged surface. FIG. 4 d is provided for illustrating that the lateral sides in cross section are parallel with each other. Variants for the cross section of the flexible cord 35′ are shown in FIGS. 4 d′ to 4 d″. FIG. 4 d′ is provided for illustrating that the cross section is an ellipse. FIG. 4 d″ is provided for illustrating that the upper, lower and lateral sides of the cross section are curved. One end of the flexible cord 35′ fixed to the barrel portion so that the the flexible cord 35′ can be wound on the barrel portion and received in the receiving space of the reel-in portion 34. The other end is connected to a drag-head 351 and a flexible segment 352 having better flexibility and provided outside the draw-out port 33 (as shown in FIGS. 4, 4 a and 4 b). In this manner, the flexible cord 35′ can be reeled out when in use and in when out of use. The flexible cord 35′ can shuttle across the cable duct by point-contact with the inner wall of the cable duct so that the frictional force between the flexible cord and the inner wall of the cable duct is reduced.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the inner lower surface of the draw-out port is rounded and outwardly sloped down so as to form a cable guide 3′ as shown in FIGS. 4 c, 4 e and 4 f. Thus, the frictional force between the flexible cord 35′ and the draw-out port 33 can be reduced so that the flexible cord 35′ can be reeled in and out easily.

Although the preferred embodiments have been described as above, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments. It should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. 

1. A cable guide, comprising a cylindrical portion radially outwardly and integrally formed with a handle portion which is provided with a draw-out port passing through a base end of the handle portion for communication with the inside of the cylindrical portion; a reel-in portion having an internal receiving space and rotatably attached to the cylindrical portion so as to be rotated with respect to the cylindrical portion; a flexible cord made of polyester monofilament material, one end of which is wound in the receiving space and the other end of which is connected with a drag-head located outside the draw-out port so as to guide a cable to shuttle across a cable duct.
 2. A cable guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner lower surface of the draw-out port is rounded and outwardly sloped down so as to form a cable guide.
 3. A cable guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross section of said flexible cord is in form of a flat and wide tetragon.
 4. A cable guide as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible cord are outwardly bulged along a longitudinal direction of the flexible cord into a round ridge.
 5. A cable guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible cord is made of polyester monofilament cord twisted in one direction so as to form a coiled shape, the cross section of which is substantially in an oval form with a major axis and a minor axis. 